Archaeologists from Queen’s University recently revealed a previously unknown stone circle in the Giant’s Ring in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The community dig took place in June and was led by archaeologist Brian Sloan of Queen’s University. The activity was organized by the Community Archeology Program of Northern Ireland (Capni).
The site came to the attention of the research team after reviewing aerial photographs that showed more extensive marks on the crops than previously believed, according to Forbes.
The site is believed to date from the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age and was probably used for ritual activities.
Sloan told Forbes that, in the 1990s, archaeologist Barrie Hartwell identified a “Neolithic temple” at Giant’s Ring that included a large wooden circle with an internal excarnation platform, which is believed to have been used to process corpses.
However, the circle was altered in the 19th century, when farmers dismantled deposits that hindered their work.
For experts, the exact function of the stone circles remains unresolved. It is believed that they were used for religious ceremonies and meetings at specific times of the year, according to publications Infobae.
This site is part of the Ballynahatty ritual complex, made up of about 50 archaeological monuments, and extends along the southern edge of the Malone range, Sloan said.
Students and schoolchildren collaborate to bring this ancient site to light. During an archaeological dig in south Belfast they discovered a laced arrowhead from the Bronze Age, dating back more than four thousand years.